Improvement in coffins



NiiiiE- STATES PATENT EEioEC JULIAN A. EQGG, oE sTooKPoET, oHEsHiEE, ENGLAND. l

IMPROVEMENT IN coFFiNs.

` Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,405, dated February 6, 1866.'

' accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

The drawing represents a perspective View of a coffin constructed according to my invention.

kThe object of my invention is to so constri'ct a coffin that the bust and head of the bod' can be seen without bending over the cofl as is necessary with coffins and burialcas j as at present constructed.

My invention consists iu cutting out from one or both sides of a coffin, near lthe head part thereof, a portion of the sides of the coffin deep enoughto expose the bust and head of l the body to a person looking toward the side ofthe coffin, and in securing pieces corresponding to such cut-out pieces vto the lid of the coffin, so that when the same is closed the coffin will present the appearance of an ordinary coffin; and it consists in the combination, with such coffin, of a glass set in the lid thereof, which, when the lid is open, will rest over the plate on the coffin, and when closed will permit a view of the face of the corpse, all as will be presently described.

,A designates the sides of the coffin, and B the top thereof, and C the lid.

To construct the coffin according to my invention a piece is cut out of each of the sides, as shown at a a in the drawing, the incision commencing near the head end of the coffin and extending down a certain distance and far enough to fully expose the bust and head of the corpse. This will be understood by reference to the drawing.

The lid C is hinged to the top of the coffin in such manner that it can be thrown over upon the said top when it is desired to exhibit the body., To this lid then are attached two pieces, D, of a shape to correspond with the opening or cut-out portion of the sides, so

that when the lid isclosed the coffin will be as tight as one of the ordinaryconstruction, and the lid can be secured down by nails at its end in the usual way. Through this lid a hole is cut, and into it is set a glass, E, in such manner that wheii the iid is closed it will be over the head of the corpse, and thus exhibit the face, and that when the lid is open the plate upon the coffin can be read through the same.

I do not limitinyself to attaching the pieces D to the lid, as it is obvious that they could be hinged to the side of the coffin, say, by a single hinge secured at the lowest part of the space cut out and so arranged that they could be let fall down by the sides of the coffin when it be desired to exhibit the corpse; and many other ways of closing the space out out could be suggested.

My object is to cut out of the sides of the coffin sufficient of the stuff-or,indeed, to make the sides in suoli way-to exhibit the body without obliging the mourners and others to bend over the coffin to see the body.

A few of the advantages of thus constructing a coffin may be bi'ieiiy stated as follows:

First, whether the lid of the coffin be open or closed the inscription on the plate can be readily seen, and, also, if it be closed the face of' the corpse can be viewed.

Second, when open the head and bust of the corpse can be seen without looking down into the coffin or bending down over the same, as is necessary with coffins as .heretofore constructed.

Third, man y persons can see the corpse without crowding around the coffin. The limited time allowed to friends to View the body and the necessity with the common coffin of passing by in single files to look down into the same often prevent inany from seeing the body.

Fourth, its appearance is, I think, more ornamental, and changes in a great degree, when the lid is open, the square box-like, and to many repulsive, appearance of the common kind of coffin.

Fifth, it is as simple in its construction as the common coffin, and the cost of making it would be the same.

Having thus described myinvention,I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pet constructed, of a glass, E, set in the lid in entsueh manner' that when the lid is open the inl. Cutting` out of at eoin a portion of the seription on the plate can be read, and that sides at the head part thereof deep enough to when the lid is closed the face of the bodyean exhibit the bust and head of the corpse7 subbe seen, substantially as specified. e stantially as specified.

2. The pieces D, so arranged that they will JULIAN A' FOGG' a close the space ent out at the sides of the co- Witnesses: fin, substantially as described. CHARLES DERBY,

3. rlhe use, in combination With a eofn so ARTHUR C. HALL. 

